Bad news for migrants with asylum and humanitarian parole who receive Food Stamps

A new legislative proposal, driven by Republicans in the House of Representatives and part of Donald Trump's campaign promises, could mark a significant turning point in access to benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The initiative not only tightens the employment requirements for beneficiaries but also restricts access to the program for certain immigrants with legal presence, including those under asylum and humanitarian parole.

"The Republicans in the House of Representatives scheduled a hearing late at night because they don't want the American people to see them. I will be here all night fighting against the Trump-backed funding bill, which makes devastating cuts to crucial programs such as Medicaid, SNAP, and other essential programs that families, children, veterans, and senior citizens rely on," wrote Democratic legislator Stephen F. Lynch on X this Tuesday.

Changes driven by the "Great and Beautiful Law"

The bill, known among Republicans as the “Great and Beautiful Law,” spans more than 1,000 pages and contains “details to offset some of the costs associated with the tax cuts and the harsh immigration plans of the president.”

One of its main goals is to restructure the eligibility criteria for social benefits, such as SNAP, a program that "monthly assists nearly 40 million people in the country," providing an average of "about 187 dollars per month per eligible person to purchase food," according to data from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Although the draft of the project is still under review by the rules committee of the House of Representatives, the signals are clear: substantial modifications are forthcoming that could exclude hundreds of thousands of people from the system.

Tightening of labor requirements

One of the most relevant aspects is the increase in labor requirements. Currently, adults without dependents up to 54 years of age must demonstrate that they are working in order to be eligible.

The new proposal "contemplates that individuals will have to provide evidence of work for a much longer period, until the age of 64."

Furthermore, the conditions for parents with young children are becoming stricter.

Today, some are exempt from proving employment until the child turns 18 years old.

The proposed legislation would lower that age to just 7 years, which could exclude a significant segment of families that rely on SNAP for their food security.

Restrictions for migrants with legal status

Another central focus of the project is the restriction of access to the SNAP program for certain immigrants with legal presence in the country.

Although SNAP “has never been open to undocumented immigrants,” those who meet certain conditions can currently access it, such as “having lived in the U.S. for at least five years, receiving disability assistance, and being under 18 years old,” according to the Department of Agriculture.

This would explicitly exclude those who have been admitted under asylum or humanitarian parole, who would lose the ability to receive federal food assistance.

This same criterion would apply to other benefits, such as the Premium Tax Credit, which currently helps to cover the cost of health insurance purchased on the health insurance marketplace.

New financial burden for the states

The proposal also includes modifying the funding model of SNAP, which is currently supported 100% by the federal government.

If the project is approved, the states would have to "contribute 5% of the program's costs starting from the fiscal year 2028 and 75% of their administrative costs."

In addition, the states that "reflect errors in providing assistance to individuals through this program" would face even greater financial responsibilities.

For example, "if a state reports an error rate of 10% or higher, it will have to cover 25% of the program's costs," reads the draft.

Critiques from food banks

The cuts to SNAP would, according to its critics, be the most severe in the history of the country.

"A proposal currently being considered in Congress could lead to the largest cut in food assistance in the history of the United States," warns organizations like the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

This institution urged lawmakers to "reject the proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid" and stated that the consequences would be "devastating."

In a context where "nearly 50 million Americans are facing food insecurity, the highest rate in over a decade," it is pointed out that this is the "worst possible time to cut SNAP."

"The prices of food and healthcare costs are rising," argue advocates of the program, making it imperative to "strengthen, not reduce, support systems."

Next legislative steps

The Republican leader in the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, hopes to bring the bill to a final vote before the Memorial Day holiday, which means that the window for opponents is quickly closing.

The approval of this project would represent a drastic setback in access to food for some of the country's most vulnerable sectors.

Everything suggests that, unless there is a substantial change in the course of the legislative debate, "food vouchers" could become a privilege that is much more inaccessible.

Frequently Asked Questions about Changes in Access to SNAP for Asylum Seekers and Humanitarian Parole Migrants